Sustainability 2014, 6, 6998-7012; doi:10.

3390/su6106998
OPEN ACCESS

sustainability
ISSN 2071-1050
www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability
Article

UASB followed by Sub-Surface Horizontal Flow

Phytodepuration for the Treatment of the Sewage
Generated by a Small Rural Community
Massimo Raboni 1,,*, Renato Gavasci 2, and Giordano Urbini 3,

1
School of Industrial Engineering, University Carlo Cattaneo-LIUC, Corso Matteotti, 22,
I-21053 Castellanza Varese, Italy
2
Department of Civil Engineering and Computer Science Engineering, University of Rome
Tor Vergata, Via Politecnico 1, I-00133 Roma, Italy; E-Mail: gavasci@ing.uniroma2.it
3
Department of Biotechnologies and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Via G.B. Vico 46,
I-21100 Varese, Italy; E-Mail: giordano.urbini@uninsubria.it

These authors contributed equally to this work.

* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: mraboni@liuc.it;

Tel.: +39-0331-572289.

External Editor: Marc A. Rosen

Received: 25 August 2014; in revised form: 29 September 2014 / Accepted: 1 October 2014 /
Published: 9 October 2014

Abstract: The paper presents the results of an experimental process designed for the
treatment of the sewage generated by a rural community located in the north-east of Brazil.
The process consists of a preliminary mechanical treatment adopting coarse screens and grit
traps, followed by a biological treatment in a UASB reactor and a sub-surface horizontal
flow phytodepuration step. The use of a UASB reactor equipped with a top cover, as well as
of the phytodepuration process employing a porous medium, showed to present important
health advantages. In particular, there were no significant odor emissions and there was no
evidence of the proliferation of insects and other disease vectors. The plant achieved the
following mean abatement efficiencies: 92.9% for BOD5, 79.2% for COD and 94% for
Suspended Solids. With regard to fecal indicators average efficiencies of 98.8% for fecal
coliforms and 97.9% for fecal enterococci were achieved. The UASB reactor showed an
important role in achieving this result. The research was also aimed at evaluating the optimal
operating conditions for the UASB reactor in terms of hydraulic load and organic volumetric
Sustainability 2014, 6 6999

loading. The achieved results hence indicated that the process may be highly effective for
small rural communities in tropical and sub-tropical areas.

Keywords: UASB reactor; constructed wetlands; sub-surface phytodepuration;

sewage treatment; rural community

1. Introduction

The treatment of the domestic wastewater generated by small communities may be achieved applying
various types of biological processes. However, the efficiency of conventional processes (i.e., based on
extended aeration activated sludge and trickling filters) is significantly affected by fluctuations of either
sewage quality or flow rate, which are generally higher the smaller the size of the community. The
effects of these fluctuations on the loss in efficiency of the treatment process has been reported in several
studies (e.g., [1,2]). This problem can be overcome with the use of natural biological processes
characterized by high retention times, such as lagoons and constructed wetlands. These kinds of
processes in fact are well suited for the needs of small rural communities as they are of low cost and
easy to operate.
However, the wastewater before being fed to these natural depuration systems needs to be pre-treated
for the removal of coarse materials, grit and settleable solids. These pre-treatments range from more
complex solutions, including screening, grit traps and Imhoff tanks, to simpler solutions (obviously less
efficient) including screening and septic tanks. Since the early 90s, solutions based on Up-flow
Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactors have begun to be developed. These systems have been
traditionally employed, given the interesting results achieved in terms of treatment efficiencies and
energy recovery through the production of biogas, for the treatment of high strength industrial
wastewaters produced for example by sugar and dairy industries, distilleries, slaughterhouses, breweries,
pulp and paper and food industries [318].
Early studies and applications of UASB in sewage treatment plants (UASB-STPs) were carried out
in Europe [8,13,19,20]. However, the most important full scale installations were first developed and
tested in Brazil and Colombia [13,2126]; then gained popularity in India and other countries with
tropical or sub-tropical climates such as the UAE, Iran, Angola, Indonesia, Egypt, Palestine, Jordan,
Thailand and others [2733]. India currently is one of the leading countries in terms of the amount of
sewage treated by the UASB process [29]. In this country, over 45 UASB-STPs are in operation, with
an average flow rate of over 10,000 m3 day1; the largest UASB-STP was designed for a flow rate of
338,000 m3 day1. 15 UASB-STPs were identified in Brazil, many of them presenting a very large
capacity, serving up to 1,500,000 inhabitants [13].
In developing countries, the UASB reactor is, in many cases, the only treatment applied after
preliminary mechanical treatment, although the importance of completing the treatment process with a
final oxidative biological treatment is widely recognized. In fact, despite the great advantages presented
by UASB reactors, such as biogas production, the quality of the treated effluents generally does not
comply with discharge standards. The following removal efficiencies have been reported for UASB-STPs:
43%47% for COD, 55%77% for BOD5 and 18%85% for suspended solids [13,19,30,34]. Therefore,
Sustainability 2014, 6 7000

the effluents from UASB reactors usually require a post-treatment step in order to comply with the limits
established by the environmental legislation in force in order not to alter the quality of the receiving
water bodies.
In developing countries, a sewage treatment plant for small rural communities is sustainable if it
presents low investment costs, negligible maintenance requirements, low power consumption and ease
of operating. In addition it is important that the applied treatment may lead to an effective improvement
of the sanitary condition of the population. On the basis of these concepts, an innovative treatment
process was tested through the construction and operation of a plant designed to serve a rural community
of 1650 inhabitants located in the north-east of Brazil. The process consists of a UASB reactor equipped
with a top cover, followed by a sub-surface horizontal flow phytodepuration system (SSHFP). It was
conceived in this manner in order to achieve an efficient sewage treatment in terms of BOD5, COD,
suspended solids and fecal microorganisms abatement. Additionally, the top cover of the UASB reactor
and the sub-surface flow of the wastewater in the phytodepuration step were selected with the aim of
minimizing odor emissions and avoid the proliferation of insects and other disease vectors. The latter is
of particular importance for the area where the plant is located, as it is periodically subjected to epidemics
of dengue, a hemorrhagic fever caused by dengue virus, spread by mosquitoes of the Aedes species
(mainly Aedes aegypty) that breed preferentially in stagnant water.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. The Experimental Plant

Figure 1 schematically shows the treatment process adopted to serve a rural community of 1650
residents, generating a sewage daily flow rate of 220 m3 day1 (133.3 L inhab1 day1).

Figure 1. Diagram of the treatment plant. The numbers into the circles identify the location
of the sampling points.

The sewage is subjected to mechanical pre-treatment (screening and grit removal), followed by
treatment in UASB reactor and a SSHFP system whose construction features are here below reported:
UASB reactor
- Diameter: 5.6 m;
- Total volume: 125 m3;
- Volume per capita: 75.75 L inhab1;
Sustainability 2014, 6 7001

- Volume of the anaerobic zone: 57 m3;

- Volume of the sedimentation zone: 52 m3;
- Volume of the transition zone (between anaerobic and sedimentation): 16 m3;
- Total water height: 5.0 m;
Phytodepuration system:
- type: sub-surface horizontal flow [35];
- parallel lines: 2;
- total surface: 2200 m2;
- height of porous medium: 0.80 m;
- height of water: 0.65 m;
- porous media: coarse stones (510 cm);
- macrophyte plants: Taboa (Typha domingensis);
- liner: compacted clay (50 cm) overlaid with a HDPE membrane.

2.2. Research Main Lines and Analytical Methods

The study was aimed at verifying the efficiency of the whole treatment process and also of the
individual treatment stages with respect to BOD5, COD, Suspended Solids (SS), settleable solids and
two of the main microbiological indicators (fecal coliforms and fecal enterococci). The efficiency was
evaluated during the regular operation of the plant, at an average sewage flow rate of 220 m3 day1, over
a period of 8 months. In this period, daily average water samples were taken in the following three points
of the plant (Figure 1):
at the inflow of the plant (raw sewage; sampling point 1);
at the outlet of the UASB reactor (intermediate effluent; sampling point 2);
at the outlet of the SSHFP system (final effluent; sampling point 3).
For each point 65 samples were collected and analyzed.
In addition, for a period of two months, the efficiency of the UASB treatment was evaluated as a
function of two key design and operational parameters:
the hydraulic load (m3 m2 h1) for suspended solids;
the volumetric loading (kg COD m3 day1) for COD.
Sampling and analysis were performed in compliance with standard methods [36]; in particular,
potassium dichromate closed reflux tritrimetic method for determining COD and multiple tube method
for microbiological indicators were used.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Sewage Quality

Table 1 shows the average quality of the raw sewage with the associated standard deviation and the
minimum and maximum values.
Sustainability 2014, 6 7002

Table 1. Quality of the raw sewage referred to 65 samples (along a period of

8 months), expressed as average, standard deviation and minimun-maximum values
(min-max range).
Average Standard Deviation
Parameter Unit min-max range
(m) (s)
Temperature C 24.3 3.5 20.528.6
pH - 7.45 0.15 7.287.65
COD mg L1 875.0 295.4 548.01224.6
BOD5 mg L1 418.5 122.2 281.1568.0
Suspended solids mg L1 402.8 101.6 295.6522.8
Settleable solids * mg L1 245.0 57.9 178.7311.3
Fecal coliforms CFU/100 mL 9.2 106 1.9 106 7.1 10611.5 106
Fecal enterococci CFU/100 mL 2.5 106 0.4 106 1.9 1063.0 106
* evaluated as the difference between the suspended solids in the raw sewage and the suspended solids
measured after 2 h of settling in an Imhoff cone.

The quality recorded indicates a high strength sewage, with the following mean values:
BOD5 = 418.5 mg L1, COD = 875.0 mg L1 and SS = 402.8 mg L1. The fluctuations around these
average values are very pronounced (as evidenced by the standard deviation and the min-max range
values), due to the small size of the rural community and the short length of the sewer to the treatment
plant (about 200 m).

3.2. Operating Conditions of the Plant

The operating conditions of the plant that were maintained during the experimental period, were
as follows:
UASB reactor:
- Hydraulic load at average flow rate: 0.37 m3 m2 h1;
- Average retention time: 13.6 h;
- Average volumetric loading, referred to BOD5: 0.73 kg BOD5 m3 day1;
- Average volumetric loading, referred to COD: 1.54 kg COD m3 day1;
- Average sludge loading, referred to BOD5: 0.021 kg BOD5 kg1 SS day1;
- Average sludge loading, referred to COD: 0.043 kg COD kg1 SS day1;
- Sludge bed concentration: 78 kg SS m3 (as average);
- VSS content in sludge SS: 60.2% (as average);
SSHFP system:
- Average volumetric loading, referred to BOD5: 0.017 kg BOD5 m3 day1;
- Average volumetric loading, referred to COD: 0.039 kg COD m3 day1;
- Average superficial organic load, referred to BOD5: 109 kg BOD5 ha1 day1;
- Average superficial organic load, referred to COD: 253 kg COD ha1 day1;
- Average Hydraulic load: 100 L m2 day1;
- Average retention time: 78 h.
Sustainability 2014, 6 7003

It should be noted that the operating conditions of the UASB reactor are aligned with the typical
values reported for other full scale plants achieving removal efficiencies of 75%80% for COD,
65%70% for BOD5 and 75%80% for suspended solids [30]. In contrast, the wetland system is operated
at a relatively high load, since in previous studies, although a wide range of average superficial organic
loads were tested (20120 kg BOD5 ha1 day1), the recommended value was reported to be lower than
67 kg BOD5 ha1 day1 [35,3739]. The choice made in the present study was aimed at achieving an
overall treatment efficiency exceeding 90% for BOD5, suspended solids and fecal indicators, while
minimizing the required surface. Of course, it was considered a viable option because of the favorable
climatic conditions and of the expectation of attaining good abatement efficiencies in the previous
treatment step carried out in the UASB reactor.

3.3. Plant Performance

3.3.1. Temperature and pH

Figure 2 shows the pH and temperature values measured at the previously mentioned three sampling
points along the plant.

Figure 2. Temperature and pH values measured at the 3 sampling points (data as mean,
standard deviation and min-max range).

The temperature of the raw sewage is typical of the local tropical climate, with a mean value of
24.3 C and a range of 20.528.5 C. This value is maintained quite well during the whole treatment
process. This represents a particularly favorable condition for achieving high treatment efficiencies for
both the UASB process and the phytodepuration step.
The pH, typical of any sewage, is characterized by a slight rise in the weakly basic field downstream
of the UASB reactor as a result of the methanogenesis process. The slight decrease in the next step
(constructed wetlands) is due to the production of CO2 by aerobic biological activities.

3.3.2. Removal Performances of BOD5, COD, Suspended Solids and Settleable Solids

Figure 3 shows the BOD5, COD, suspended solids and settleable solids concentration, while Figure 4
reports the same results in terms of removal efficiencies.
Sustainability 2014, 6 7004

Figure 3. Values of BOD5, COD, suspended solids and settleable solids measured at the
3 sampling points (data as mean, standard deviation and min-max range).

Figure 4. Average removal efficiencies for each parameter attained by the overall process
and the individual two tested treatments.

The examination of the results allows to make the following observations:

The raw sewage proves high strength characteristics because of the high concentrations of
BOD5, COD and suspended solids. This condition, coupled with the high temperature, results in
the achievement of average removal efficiencies in the UASB reactor as high as 74.0% for BOD5,
71.1% for COD and 65.0% for suspended solids. These efficiency values are significantly higher
than those that are typically obtained by a simple primary sedimentation step and may be related
to both the anaerobic biological process occurring in the granular sludge blanket and the mechanical
filtration process taking place in the same biological bed. The resulting average efficiency values
prove in accordance with those reported for well operated UASB-STPs [5,19,25,28,34].
Sustainability 2014, 6 7005

The SSHFP step achieves a further reduction of BOD5 and COD concentrations, bringing the total
yield to the values of 92.9% for BOD5 and 79.2% for COD. But the greatest impact of this step
regards the removal of suspended solids that reaches an overall efficiency of 94%, despite the very
coarse filling medium adopted. Therefore, this treatment stage consists not only in a biological
process but also in a mechanical treatment step with regard to suspended solids (by filtration,
sedimentation and other interception mechanisms of suspended particles). It is worth noting that
during the course of the experimentation no appreciable increases in pressure drop along the
wetland system were observed. For this reason it is reasonable to assume that further efficiency
benefits could be achieved employing a finer porous medium with a diameter of about 1020 mm
in the final zone of the constructed wetland.

3.3.3. Removal Performances of Fecal and Enterococcus Coliforms

Figure 5 shows the fecal coliforms and fecal enterococci concentration measured at the three sampling
points along the plant.

Figure 5. Values of fecal coliforms and enterococcus coliforms measured at the 3 sampling
points (data as mean, standard deviation and min-max range).

The average removal efficiency resulting from the UASB reactor amounts to 67.4% for fecal
coliforms and 65.2%. for fecal enterococci (Figure 4). These values are appreciably higher than those
achieved with a simple primary sedimentation step for which efficiencies of 30%50% [37], 38% (as
average value in 15 plants) [40], and 25%75% [41] are reported. The lower values of these ranges are
typical of very diluted sewage [42]. The result achieved in the present study may be attributed to both
the higher removal yield of suspended solids achieved and the high retention time in anaerobic
conditions adopted. The scientific literature indicates that for a simple primary sedimentation treatment
the percentage of fecal coliforms removal is lower than that of suspended solids [40]. In this case instead,
the two reduction values are comparable, further confirming the important role exerted by the anaerobic
sludge blanket treatment for the reduction of fecal indicators. In fact mesophilic anaerobic digestion is
considered very effective in removing pathogens [43,44]. With reference to sewage sludge, Berg and
Berman [45] reported that anaerobic digestion inactivated 1.44 to 2.3 Log of fecal coliform, 1.05 to 1.36
Log of Entrovirus and 0.92 to 2.08 Log of Salmonella. Also Ponugoti et al. [46] evidenced that anaerobic
digestion may reduce many pathogenic organisms and indicator bacteria by 1 to 3 Log [45,46]. With
Sustainability 2014, 6 7006

regard to the UASB process the data available is rather scarce. A recent study indicates that UASB-STPs
remove fecal coliforms by about one order of magnitude [47]. In another work an average removal by
UASB treatment of 79% for fecal coliforms, 88% for Salmonella and Shigella and 87% for Vibrio was
observed [48]. In another plant the removal of fecal coliforms was indicated to be above 80% [49].
Hence, actually the results reported in the above mentioned studies regarding the effects of UASB
treatment on pathogens abatement appears to be slightly better than what achieved in this specific
research.
The SSHFP step completes the removal of these indicators bringing the overall efficiency to the
average values of 98.8% for fecal coliforms and 97.9% for fecal enterococci. Also for this step the relevant
contribution of suspended solids removal which acts as the main driving force for the treatment of
microbiological pollution stands out. It is worth mentioning that a traditional mechanical-biological plant
produces an average reduction of fecal coliforms of about 90% with peaks of 98% [37,40,41,50].
Therefore, the tested process proves to be particularly effective in terms of removing microbiological
pollution compared to traditional systems.
Despite this positive aspect it seems correct to point out that several other similar studies
showed significantly better results with efficiencies exceeding 99% just for the constructed wetland
(citing [5153]). This greater efficiency is justified by the lower volumetric loading and the finer filling
material (usually 520 mm against the value of 50100 mm applied in this specific research with the
aim to achieving very long operating times without any risk of clogging). Apart from the cited removal
efficiency of fecal indicators it is worth to note that SSHFP is considered a highly efficient system for
the removal of protozoan pathogens (Cryptosporidium and Giardia) and coliphages with efficiencies in
the range of 94%98% [54].

3.3.4. Further Results

Besides the discussed results, it should be noted that the operation of the whole plant was quite regular
during the whole experimentation period, without the occurrence of noteworthy maintenance problems.
In addition, the plant did not produce odors, thereby demonstrating the effectiveness of the top cover of
the UASB reactor and the sub-surface flow adopted in the phytodepuration step.
An important role in odor control should be also ascribed to the water solubility of the different volatile
odorous compounds. However, the biogas production was quite small due in part to the mentioned
solubility in water (1720 mg L1 and 1450 mg L1 at 20 C and atmospheric pressure for methane and
carbon dioxide, respectively [55]) and to the feeble mesophilic conditions employed in the UASB
reactor. Previous studies have also shown that the quantity of biogas produced by these types of
treatments is limited and inadequate to guarantee exploitable bioenergy generation [56].

3.4. Evaluation of the Efficiency of the UASB Treatment at Variable Loads

For a period of three months the UASB reactor was fed with a gradually increasing flow rate in order
to verify the effects on the treatment efficiency of both the hydraulic load and the COD volumetric
loading. The results are presented in Figures 6 and 7.
Sustainability 2014, 6 7007

Figure 6. Removal efficiency of suspended solids in the UASB reactor as a function of the
hydraulic load (mean and 95% interval of confidence).

Figure 6 shows that the removal efficiency of suspended solids remains quite constant and above 65%
for hydraulic loads lower than 0.5 m3 m2 h1. Beyond this value there is a progressive loss of efficiency
down to 40% for a hydraulic load of 0.9 m3 m2 h1. The progressive loss of efficiency is initially due
only to the transport of the suspended solids present in the wastewater, while at higher hydraulic loads
also the sludge blanket granules are extracted with the effluent. For comparison, the results of previous
studies suggested to adopt hydraulic load values of 0.52 to 0.58 m3 m2 h1 [30] and below 0.35 m3 m2
h1 [57].

Figure 7. Removal efficiency of COD in the UASB reactor as a function of COD loading
(mean and 95% interval of confidence).

Figure 7 shows that a COD removal efficiency above 70% may be achieved for a volumetric loading
lower than 1.75 kg COD m3 day1, while for higher values there is a progressive loss of efficiency,
which decreases to 30% for a volumetric loading of 3 kg COD m3 day1. Obviously, the removal
efficiency of COD (Figure 7) is strongly correlated to the removal efficiency of suspended solids (Figure
Sustainability 2014, 6 7008

6), and this justifies the analogy of the trends of the two curves. It should be noted, however, that the
decreasing gradient of the curve of the COD removal efficiency is greater than that of the suspended
solids. This evidence can be justified by considering that at the highest volumetric loadings tested COD
removal is affected by both the transport of solids in the effluent and the shorter contact time in the
anaerobic biological reactor.

4. Conclusions

The results of this study indicate that the tested process making use of a UASB reactor followed by
a sub-surface horizontal flow phytodepuration system is particularly effective for the treatment of the
sewage generated by small rural communities in tropical and sub-tropical areas. The use of a UASB
reactor equipped with a top cover, as well as of the phytodepuration process employing a porous
medium, showed to present important health advantages. In particular, there were no significant
emissions of odors and there was no evidence of the proliferation of insects and other disease vectors.
The latter is of particular note in the location of the plant because it is periodically subjected to outbreaks
of dengue, a hemorrhagic fever caused by dengue virus spread by mosquitoes of the species Aedes
(mainly Aedes aegypty) that prefer to breed in stagnant water.
Globally, the following abatement efficiencies were achieved: 92.9% for BOD5, 79.2% for COD and
94% for suspended solids. With concern to fecal indicators, an average efficiency of 98.8% for fecal
coliforms and 97.9% for fecal enterococci were achieved. The UASB reactor showed a relevant role in
achieving this result as alone it allowed to attain efficiencies of 74% for BOD5, 71.1% for COD, 65%
for suspended solids and approximately 65% for the microbiological fecal indicators.
In the wetland system a coarse filling material was adopted (50100 mm) in order to ensure long
operating times without the risk of clogging and consequent need of maintenance. Nonetheless, the
removal efficiency of suspended solids (and of all others parameters) resulted very significant. However,
due to the verified negligible lack of head loss in the porous media, it seems reasonable to take into
consideration also the application of a finer porous medium (1020 mm) in a part of the final zone of
the wetland in order to achieve further improvements of the treatment efficiency.
The analysis of the performance of the UASB reactor has led to identify as optimum operating
conditions a hydraulic load below 0.5 m3 m2 h1 and a volumetric loading lower than 1.75 kg COD m3
day1 (for an average temperature of 23.9 C) which allows to achieve removal efficiencies of suspended
solids and COD above 65% and 70%, respectively. Beyond this limit, the performance shows a
decreasing gradient due to suspended solids leakage in the effluent and a low retention time within the
anaerobic sludge blanket.

Author Contributions

The authors contributed equally to this work. Renato Gavasci, Massimo Raboni and Giordano Urbini
developed the idea and designed the plant. Massimo Raboni was the responsible of the plant operation
and data analysis. Renato Gavasci and Giordano Urbini acted as supervisors. The article has been written
with full collaboration of all the authors. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Sustainability 2014, 6 7009

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

1. Raboni, M.; Torretta, V.; Urbini, G. Influence of strong diurnal variations in sewage quality on the
performance of biological denitrification in small community wastewater treatment plants
(WWTPs). Sustainability 2013, 5, 36793689.
2. Raboni, M.; Torretta, V.; Viotti, P.; Urbini, G. Pilot experimentation with complete mixing anoxic
reactors to improve sewage denitrification in treatment plants in small communities. Sustainability
2014, 6, 112122.
3. Lettinga, G.; van Velsen, A.F.M.; Hobma, S.W.; de Zeeuw, W.; Klapwijk, A. Use of the upflow
sludge blanket (USB) reactor concept for biological wastewater treatment, especially for anaerobic
treatment. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 1980, 22, 699734.
4. Caixeta, C.E.T.; Cammarota, M.C.; Xavier, A.M.F. Slaughterhouse wastewater treatment:
Evaluation of a new three-phase separation system in a UASB reactor. Bioresour. Technol. 2002,
81, 6169.
5. Powar, A.A.; Kore, V.S.; Kore, S.V.; Kulkarni, G.S. Review on application of UASB technology
for wastewater treatment. Int. J. Adv. Sci. Eng. Technol. 2013, 2, 125133.
6. Frankin, R.J. Full-scale experiences with anaerobic treatment of industrial wastewater. Water Sci.
Technol. 2001, 44, 16.
7. Sayed, S.; van Campen, L.; Lettinga, G. Anaerobic treatment of slaughterhouse waste using a
granular sludge UASB reactor. Biol. Wastes 1987, 21, 1128.
8. Lettinga, G.; Field, J.; van Lier, J.; Zeeman, G.; Hulshoff Pol, L.W. Advanced Anaerobic
Wastewater Treatment in the Near Future. In Proceedings of the 1996 IAWQ International
Conference on Advanced Wastewater Treatment: Nutrient Removal and Anaerobic Processes,
AQUATECH96, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2325 September 1996; Volume 35, pp. 512.
9. Mijaylova Nacheva, P.; Moeller Chvez, G.; Matas Chacn, J.; Canul Chuil, A. Treatment of cane
sugar mill wastewater in an upflow anaerobic sludge bed reactor. Water Sci. Technol. 2009, 60,
13471352.
10. Mijalova Nacheva, P.; Reyes Pantoja, M.; Lomel Serrano, E.A. Treatment of slaughterhouse
wastewater in upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor. Water Sci. Technol. 2011, 63, 877884.
11. Neena, C.; Ambily, P.S.; Jisha, M.S. Anaerobic degradation of coconut husk leachate using UASB-
reactor. J. Environ. Biol. 2007, 28, 611615.
12. Yasar, A.; Tabinda, A.B. Anaerobic treatment of industrial wastewater by UASB reactor integrated
with chemical oxidation processes: An overview. Polish J. Environ. Stud. 2010, 19, 10511061.
13. Van Lier, J.B.; Vashi, A.; van der Lubbe, J.; Heffernan, B. Anaerobic Sewage Treatment Using
UASB Reactors: Engineering and Operational Aspects. In Environmental Anaerobic Technology:
Applications and New Developments; Fang, H.H.P., Ed.; Imperial College Press: London, UK,
2010; p. 404.
Sustainability 2014, 6 7010

14. Lettinga, G.; Hulshoff Pol, L.W. USAB-process design for various types of wastewaters. Water
Sci. Technol. 1991, 24, 87107.
15. Najafpour, G.D.; Hashemiyeh, B.A.; Asadi, M.; Ghasemi, M.B. Biological treatment of dairy
wasterwater in an upflow anaerobic sludge-fixed film bioreactor. Am. Eurasian J. Agric. Environ.
Sci. 2008, 4, 251257.
16. Hampannavar, U.S.; Shivayogimath, C.B. Anaerobic treatment of sugar industry wastewater by
upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor at ambient temperature. Int. J. Environ. Sci. 2010, 1, 631
639.
17. Gavala, H.N.; Kopsinis, H.; Skiadas, I.V.; Stamatelatou, K.; Lyberatos, G. Treatment of dairy
wastewater using an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor. J. Agric. Eng. Res. 1999, 73, 5963.
18. Gotmare, M.; Dhoble, R.M.; Pittule, A.P. Biomethanation of dairy waste water through UASB at
mesophilic temperature range. Int. J. Adv. Eng. Sci. Technol. 2011, 8, 19.
19. Van Haandel, A.C.; Lettinga, G. Anaerobic Sewage Treatment: A Practical Guide for Regions with
a Hot Climate; Wiley-Blackwell: Hoboken, NJ, USA, 1994.
20. Collivignarelli, C.; Urbini, G.; Farneti, A.; Bassetti, A.; Barbaresi, U. Anaerobic-aerobic treatment
of municipal wastewaters with full-scale upflow anaerobic sludge blanket and attached biofilm
reactors. Water Sci. Technol. 1990, 22, 475482.
21. Vieira, S.M.M.; Souza, M.E. Development of technology for the use of the UASB reactor in
domestic sewage treatment. Water Sci. Technol. 1986, 18, 109121.
22. Vieira, S.M.M.; Carvalho, J.L.; Barijan, F.P.O.; Rech, C.M. Application of the UASB technology
for sewage treatment in a small community at Sumare, Sao Paulo state. Water Sci. Technol. 1994,
30, 203210.
23. Seghezzo, L.; Zeeman, G.; van Lier, J.B.; Hamelers, H.V.M.; Lettinga, G. A review: The anaerobic
treatment of sewage in UASB and EGSB reactors. Bioresour. Technol. 1998, 65, 175190.
24. Chernicharo, C.A.L.; Almeida, P.G.S.; Lobato, L.C.S.; Couto, T.C.; Borges, J.M.; Lacerda, Y.S.
Experience with the design and start up of two full-scale UASB plants in Brazil: Enhancements and
drawbacks. Water Sci. Technol. 2009, 60, 507515.
25. Ruiz, I.; Soto, M.; Veiga, M.C.; Ligero, P.; Vega, A.; Blzquez, R. Performance of and biomass
characterisation in a UASB reactor treating domestic waste water at ambient temperature.
Water SA 1998, 24, 215222.
26. Behling, E.; Diaz, A.; Colina, G.; Herrera, M.; Gutierrez, E.; Chacin, E.; Fernandez, N.; Forster, C.F.
Domestic wastewater treatment using a UASB reactor. Bioresour. Technol. 1997, 61, 239245.
27. Sato, N.; Okubo, T.; Onodera, T.; Ohashi, A.; Harada, H. Prospects for a self-sustainable sewage
treatment system: A case study on full-scale UASB system in Indias Yamuna river basin.
J. Environ. Manag. 2006, 80, 198207.
28. Khalil, N.; Mittal, A.K.; Raghav, A.K.; Rajeev, S. UASB technology for sewage treatment in India:
20 years experience. Environ. Eng. Manag. J. 2006, 5, 10591069.
29. Sato, N.; Okubo, T.; Onodera, T.; Agrawal, L.K.; Ohashi, A.; Harada, H. Economic evaluation of
sewage treatment processes in India. J. Environ. Manag. 2007, 84, 447460.
Sustainability 2014, 6 7011

30. Khalil, N.; Sinha, R.; Raghav, A.K.; Mittal, A.K. UASB Technology for Sewage Treatment in
India: Experience, Economic Evaluation and Its Potential in Other Developing Countries.
In Proceedings of the 12th International Water Technology Conference, IWTC12, Alexandria,
Egypt, 2008; pp. 14111427.
31. Elmitwalli, T.A.; Shalabi, M.; Wendland, C.; Otterpohl, R. Grey water treatment in UASB reactor
at ambient temperature. Water Sci. Technol. 2007, 55, 173180.
32. Banu, J.R.; Kaliappan, S.; Yeom, I.T. Treatment of domestic wastewater using upflow anaerobic
sludge blanket reactor. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2007, 4, 363370.
33. Hazrati, H.; Shayegan, J. Optimizing OLR and HRT in a UASB reactor for pretreating high-strength
municipal wastewater. Chem. Eng. Trans. 2011, 24, 12851290.
34. Oliveira, S.C.; von Sperling, M. Performance evaluation of UASB reactor systems with and without
post-treatment. Water Sci. Technol. 2009, 59, 12991306.
35. United StatesEnvironmental Protection Agency (US-EPA). Subsurface Flow Constructed
Wetlands for Wastewater TreatmentA Technology Assessment; USEnvironmental Protection
AgencyOffice of Water: Washington, DC, USA, 1993; p. 87.
36. Eaton, A.D.; Franson, M.A.H.; Association, A.P.H.; Association, A.W.W.; Federation, W.E.
Standard Methods for the Examination of Water & Wastewater; American Public Health
Association: Washington, DC, USA, 2005.
37. Vismara, R. Biological Depuration, 3rd ed.; Hoepli: Milan, Italy, 1998; p. 792. (In Italian)
38. Brix, H. Wastewater Treatment in Constructed Wetlands: System Design, Removal Processes and
Treatment Performance. In Constructed Wetlands for Water Quality Improvement; Moshiri, G.A.,
Ed.; CRC Press: Boca Raton, FL, USA, 1993; pp. 922.
39. Brix, H.; Schierup, H.H. Danish Experience with Sewage Treatment in Constructed Wetlands. In
Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment, Municipal, Industrial and Agricultural; Hammer,
D.A., Ed.; Lewis Publishers Inc.: Chelsea, MI, USA, 1989; pp. 565573.
40. George, I.; Crop, P.; Servais, P. Fecal coliform removal in wastewater treatment plants studied by
plate counts and enzymatic methods. Water Res. 2002, 36, 26072617.
41. Tchobanoglous, G.; Burton, F.L.; Stensel, H.D.; Metcalf, E. Wastewater Engineering: Treatment
and Reuse; McGraw-Hill: New York, NY, USA, 2003.
42. Payment, P.; Plante, R.; Cejka, P. Removal of indicator bacteria, human enteric viruses, giardia
cysts, and cryptosporidium oocysts at a large wastewater primary treatment facility. Can. J.
Microbiol. 2001, 47, 188193.
43. Epstein, E. Land Application of Sewage Sludge and Biosolids; CRC Press: Boca Raton, FL, USA,
2002; p. 216.
44. Dahab, M.F.; Surampali, L.; Ponugoti, P. Pathogen Indicator Reduction Characteristics in
Municipal Biosolids Treatment Systems. In Proceedings of the 69th Water Environment Federation
Conference, WEFTEC '96, Dallas, TX, USA, 1996; pp. 265276.
45. Berg, G.; Berman, D. Destruction by anaerobic mesophilic and thermophilic digestion of viruses
and indicator bacteria indigenous to domestic sludges. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 1980, 39, 361368.
46. Ponugoti, P.R.; Dahab, M.F.; Surampalli, R. Effects of different biosolids treatment systems on
pathogen and pathogen indicator reduction. Water Environ. Res. 1997, 69, 11951206.
Sustainability 2014, 6 7012

47. Khan, A.A.; Gaur, R.Z.; Tyagi, V.K.; Lew, B.; Diamantis, V.; Kazmi, A.A.; Mehrotra, I. Fecal
coliform removal from the effluent of UASB reactor through diffused aeration. Desalin. Water
Treat. 2012, 39, 4144.
48. Pant, A.; Mittal, A.K. Monitoring of pathogenicity of effluents from the UASB based sewage
treatment plant. Environ. Monit. Assess. 2007, 133, 4351.
49. Tessele, F.; Monteggia, L.O.; Rubio, J. Treatment of municipal wastewater UASB reactor effluent
by unconventional flotation and uv disinfection. Water Sci. Technol. 2005, 52, 315322.
50. Antunes, S.; Dionisio, L.; Silva, M.C.; Valente, M.S.; Borrego, J.J. Coliforms as Indicators of
Efficiency of Wastewater Treatment Plants. In Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on
Energy, Environment, Ecosystems and Sustainable development, IASME/WSEAS, Agios Nikolaos,
Greece, 2007; pp. 2629.
51. Haberl, R. Constructed WetlandsA Solution in the Sustainable Sanitation ApproachGeneral
Remarks and Significant Case-Studies. In Proceedings of the Conference on Constructed Wetlands:
Application and Prospects, Volterra, Italy, 2003; pp. 7189.
52. Conte, G.; Bresciani, R.; Pucci, B.; Martinuzzi, N. Application of Horizontal Subsurface Flow
Systems for the Secondary Treatment of Civil and Agro-Industrial Wastewater in Italy.
In Proceedings of the Conference on Constructed Wetlands: Application and Prospects, Volterra,
Italy, 2003; pp. 153162. (In Italian)
53. Mantovi, P.; Marmiroli, M.; Maestri, E.; Tagliavini, S.; Piccinini, S.; Marmiroli, N. Application of
a horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland on treatment of dairy parlor wastewater.
Bioresour. Technol. 2003, 88, 8594.
54. Reinoso, R.; Torres, L.A.; Bcares, E. Efficiency of natural systems for removal of bacteria and
pathogenic parasites from wastewater. Sci. Total Environ. 2008, 395, 8086.
55. Green, D.; Perry, R. Perrys Chemical Engineers Handbook, 8th ed.; McGraw-Hill Education:
New York, NY, USA, 2007; p. 2400.
56. Tare, V.; Nema, A. UASB TechnologyExpectations and Reality; United Nations Asian and Pacific
Centre for Agricultural Engineering and Machinery: Beijing, China, 2010; p. 6. Available online:
http://unapcaem.org/Activities%20Files/A01/UASB%20Technology%20%E2%80%93%
20Expectations%20and%20Reality.pdf (accessed on 8 October 2014).
57. Lew, B.; Tarre, S.; Belavski, M.; Green, M. Uasb reactor for domestic wastewater treatment at low
temperatures: A comparison between a classical UASB and hybrid UASB-filter reactor. Water Sci.
Technol. 2004, 49, 295301.

2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article
distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).